Blogging with Bryan C. Hanks

Only one game was completed in the first day of the 2008 junior American Legion state tournament in Kinston today. The rest of the games have been washed out.

Here is the rest of the week’s schedule… 

Wednesday’s result

Game 1: Rowan County (West No. 2) 11, West Brunswick (East No. 3) 9

Thursday

Game 2: 1 p.m. (LCC) — Rocky Mount (East No. 2) vs. Cherryville (West No. 3)

Game 3: 4:30 p.m. (Grainger) — Cary (East No. 1) vs. Pineville (West No. 4)

Game 4: 7:30 p.m. (Grainger) — Mooresville (West No. 1) vs. Kinston (Host)

Friday

Game 5: 9:30 a.m. (LCC) — West Brunswick (East No. 3) vs. Loser Game 3 (LOSER ELIMINATED)

Game 6: 12:30 p.m. (LCC) — Loser Game 2 vs. Loser Game 4 (LOSER ELIMINATED)

Game 7: 4:30 p.m. (Grainger) — Rowan County (West No. 2) vs. Winner Game 3

Game 8: 7:30 p.m. (Grainger) — Winner Game 2 vs. Winner Game 4

Saturday

Game 9: 12:30 p.m. (LCC) — Winner Game 6 vs. Loser Game 7 (LOSER ELIMINATED)

Game 10: 4 p.m. (LCC) — Winner Game 5 vs. Loser Game 8 (LOSER ELIMINATED)

Game 11: 12:30 p.m. (Grainger) — Winner Game 7 vs. Winner Game 8

Game 12: 4 p.m. (Grainger) — Winner Game 9 vs. Loser Game 11 (LOSER ELIMINATED)

Game 13: 7 p.m. (Grainger) — Winner Game 10 vs. Winner Game 11 (If Game 10 winner loses, it’s eliminated)

Notes: pairing for Games 12 and 13 will not match previous opponents against each other unless absolutely necessary (national representative has further instructions). … If three teams remain after Game 13, the winner of Game 11 automatically draws the bye in Game 14

Sunday

Game 14: 1 p.m. (Grainger) Winner Game 12 vs. Winner Game 13 (Champions; unless one of the team’s first losses)

Game 15: 4 p.m. (Grainger) Winner Game 14 vs. Loser Game 14, if first loss (Champions)

I.T. EXPERTS, UNITE!

A network administrator in San Francisco has been in jail for 10 days since refusing to give the passwords to vital systems, including law enforcement, payroll and jail-booking records.

He turned those passwords over to the mayor of SF on Monday. He was being held on $5 bond for “taking control of the city’s networks.”

My take: I hate to pull for the bad guy, but did you see the reason he said he did it? Because the people he worked with were incompetent.

We could all say the same at times, eh?

REPORT: BALE (BATMAN!) DIDN’T HIT HIS MOM, SISTER

Christian Bale (Batman) was arrested for assaulting his mom and sister over the weekend before a European launch of The Dark Knight. Now, a report says he didn’t hit them, he just yelled really, really loudly when they were dissing his wife.

My take: Holy maternal abuse, Batman! Say it ain’t so!

(That seemed much funnier in my head before I actually wrote it)

DWI SUSPECT BLEW .491

A drunk driving suspect in Rhode Island blew a .491 at a traffic stop early Tuesday morning. Not only was he arrested for driving while intoxicated, he also was charged with resisting arrest.

My take: Yes, I had to do a double-take, too. To blow .491 is more than six times the legal limit of .08. How could he have even been able to resist arrest after drinking that much?

The next question: Was Charlie Kraebel in Rhode Island after watching The Dark Knight?

The iPod shuffle

The Next Episode — Dr. Dre

Jingle Bell Rock — Randy Travis (Yes, I have Christmas music loaded…)

Mainstreet (Live) — Bob Seger and the Silver Bullet Band

If You Leave — Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark

Don’t Bring Me Down — Electric Light Orchestra

In his latest offering, former Free Presser and our good friend Charlie Kraebel surmises that all the hype surrounding Heath Ledger’s turn in The Dark Knight is just that: hype because of Ledger’s untimely death.

My take: I couldn’t disagree more. I don’t know which “Dark Knight” Charlie watched, but in the one I watched, Ledger was awesome. He was — quite possibly — the most evil comic book villain I’ve ever seen in a movie.

And Charlie — Ledger’s performance wasn’t as good as Jack Nicholson’s?

Back away from the crack pipe, my friend!

Kraebel’s update: Ol’ Charlie posted a rebuttal to my rebuttal in which he comes up with more villains that he thinks were “badder” than Heath Ledger’s Joker.

Dude, really? You think Gene Hackman’s Lex Luthor in “Superman II” was better than Ledger’s Joker?

Please, think of your children. What’s going to happen to them when they catch you with all that smack you’ve been smoking?

And Kraebel — our good friend Richard Clark said you are full of … well … poop.

Richard: “Heath Ledger was as good as anyone I’ve seen. To even put those five douchebags on your list in front of Ledger’s Joker is an insult to good movies everywhere. Go watch “Garden State” or some other upstate NY movie. Peace out!”

BO KNOWS MVPs … AGAIN

Kinston’s Bo Ingram made it a clean sweep in post-season MVPs as he led the East to a 99-93 win in the East-West Game in Greensboro on Monday. Ingram, who has signed to play basketball with a Texas junior college, scored 24 points. Here’s the Winston-Salem Journal’s story and the Greensboro News and Record’s story on the game and Bo’s MVP effort.

My take: I know you are asking — “Why wasn’t The Free Press there?” I wish we could’ve been. We’re still a person short on the sports side (technically, two short) and my news duties kept me away from Greensboro on Monday. We have been to every other postseason and all-star game Bo and Kinston played in; this was the first one we missed.

Back to Bo, though: he won MVPs in the 3A state championship and Eastern Regional games, the North Carolina-South Carolina All-Star Classic and now the East-West Game. What a postseason he’s had.

LENO’S FINAL DAY IS MAY 29; CONAN’S FIRST IS JUNE 1

Jay Leno will finish his 17-year run as The Tonight Show host on May 29, with Conan O’Brien taking over the host duties on June 1. There are now rumors that Leno may end up at ABC, possibly even supplanting Jimmy Kimmel to face Conan head-to-head.

My take: Because of my new position that forces me to get up at 7 a.m., I’ve missed most of the late-night shows lately. But since we talked about this yesterday, here’s my quick ranking of the late-night comedy talking heads:

1. Stephen Colbert

2. Jon Stewart

3. Conan O’Brien

4. Jimmy Kimmel

5. David Letterman

6. Jay Leno

7. Craig Ferguson

I’m sure Leno to ABC would draw some numbers, but — in my opinion — Kimmel is already better than he is.

CBS WON’T HAVE TO PAY $550,000 OVER “WARDROBE MALFUNCTION”

Remember the Carolina Panthers’ only Super Bowl? Sadly, the most memorable thing was Justin Timberlake revealing the right breast of Janet Jackson at halftime in what was later deemed a “wardrobe malfunction.” CBS won’t have to pay the $550,000 fine that was levied it by the FCC.

My take: Here’s a good wrap of the incident, although be warned: the picture might be NSFW in some circles.

I’m glad it’s finally over. I really think it was much ado about nothing…

KINSTON WINS EAST COAST INVITATIONAL FOR SECOND STRAIGHT YEAR

Congratulations to Kinston for winning Wells Gulledge’s camp for the second consecutive season. You remember what happened last year when the Vikings won the tourney?

The iPod shuffle

The World I Know — Collective Soul

Obsession — Animotion

Dani California — Red Hot Chili Peppers

U Can’t Touch This — MC Hammer

Opposites Attract — Paula Abdul

Double-elimination tournament 

Wednesday (games at LCC or Grainger Stadium)

Game 1: 9:30 a.m. (LCC) — Rowan County (West No. 2) vs. West Brunswick (East No. 3)

Game 2: 12:30 p.m. (LCC) — Rocky Mount (East No. 2) vs. Cherryville (West No. 3)

Game 3: 4:30 p.m. (Grainger) — Cary (East No. 1) vs. Pineville (West No. 4)

Game 4: 7:30 p.m. (Grainger) — Mooresville (West No. 1) vs. Kinston (Host)

Thursday

Game 5: 9:30 a.m. (LCC) — Loser Game 1 vs. Loser Game 3 (LOSER ELIMINATED)

Game 6: 12:30 p.m. (LCC) — Loser Game 2 vs. Loser Game 4 (LOSER ELIMINATED)

Game 7: 4:30 p.m. (Grainger) — Winner Game 1 vs. Winner Game 3

Game 8: 7:30 p.m. (Grainger) — Winner Game 2 vs. Winner Game 4

Friday

Game 9: 12:30 p.m. (LCC) — Winner Game 6 vs. Loser Game 7 (LOSER ELIMINATED)

Game 10: 4:30 p.m. (LCC) — Winner Game 5 vs. Loser Game 8 (LOSER ELIMINATED)

Game 11: 7:30 p.m. (Grainger) — Winner Game 7 vs. Winner Game 8

Saturday

Game 12: 4 p.m. (Grainger) — Winner Game 9 vs. Loser Game 11 (LOSER ELIMINATED)

Game 13: 7 p.m. (Grainger) — Winner Game 10 vs. Winner Game 11 (If Game 10 winner loses, it’s eliminated)

Notes: pairing for Games 12 and 13 will not match previous opponents against each other unless absolutely necessary (national representative has further instructions). … If three teams remain after Game 13, the winner of Game 11 automatically draws the bye in Game 14

Sunday

Game 14: 2 p.m. (Grainger) Winner Game 12 vs. Winner Game 13 (Champions; unless one of the team’s first losses)

Game 15: 5 p.m. (Grainger) Winner Game 14 vs. Loser Game 14, if first loss (Champions)

Kinston’s, North Lenoir’s and South Lenoir’s 2008 schedules can be found by clicking on their name… 

Greene Central 2008 football schedule

Aug. 22 — at South Central

Aug. 29 — Wilson Beddingfield

Sept. 5 — at C.B. Aycock

Sept. 12 — Ayden-Grifton

Sept. 19 — Kinston

Sept. 26 — at James Kenan

Oct. 10 — at North Pitt*

Oct. 17 — Goldsboro*

Oct. 24 — at Tarboro*

Oct. 31 — Farmville Central*

Nov. 7 — at North Lenoir*

Ayden-Grifton 2008 football schedule

Aug. 22 — Pamlico

Aug. 29 — James Kenan

Sept. 5 — at North Pitt

Sept. 12 — at Greene Central

Sept. 19 — at D.H. Conley

Sept. 26 — Farmville Central

Oct. 10 — at Goldsboro Rosewood*

Oct. 17 — Spring Creek*

Oct. 24 — at North Duplin*

Oct. 31 — Princeton*

Nov. 7 — at North Johnston*

Jones Senior 2008 football schedule

Aug. 22 — SW Onslow

Aug. 29 — at North Pitt

Sept. 5 — at North Duplin

Sept. 12 — Southern Wayne

Sept. 19 — South Lenoir

Oct. 3 — Goldsboro Rosewood

Oct. 10 — at Lejeune*

Oct. 17 — Pamlico*

Oct. 24 — at East Carteret*

Oct. 31 — Topsail*

Nov. 7 — at Dixon*

COULD BARR HURT MCCAIN?

Libertarian presidential Bob Barr is currently polling at about 6 percent against Democrat Barack Obama and Republican John McCain. While that number doesn’t sound significant, consider that — at the moment — Obama has 44 percent while McCain has 38 percent.

My take: Heck yeah, Barr is going to hurt McCain. Barr’s strongest suit — privacy — is one of McCain’s strongest talking points. Remember who drained votes from George H.W. Bush in 1992 and Bob Dole in 1996 and handed the election to Bill Clinton both times? Yep, Ross Perot, who was a “light” version of Bush and Dole.

FALLON TO GET ONLINE WORK IN BEFORE TAKING OVER FOR CONAN

With Jimmy Fallon getting ready to take over NBC’s “Late Night” franchise from Conan O’Brien (who is taking over “The Tonight Show” from Jay Leno), Fallon will be getting some work in … online. Fallon will be hosting his new show on the Internet in the near future, according to producer Lorne Michaels.

My take: Honestly, I didn’t know Fallon — who co-hosted the Weekend Update feature — was taking over for Conan. I think he can be a competent follow-up to him, though.

But how do you think Conan will do in place of Leno?

“THE DARK KNIGHT” BREAKS BOX-OFFICE RECORDS

“The Dark Knight”, a sequel to 2005’s “Batman Begins”, sold $155.3 million worth of tickets in its opening weekend, breaking the record for a three-day opening weekend.

My take: I watched the movie Friday night in Kinston — and it was awesome. Heath Ledger’s Joker is one of the most disturbing — and well-acted — characters I’ve ever seen on the big screen. It’s certainly one of those movies you want to see again — and I will in the next couple of nights.

My only complaint is that, at 2:25 or so, it was about 30 minutes too long.

The reviews for it have been amazing. My advice: Go see it and tell me what you thought about it.

The iPod shuffle

Rapture — Blondie

Candyman — Christina Aguilera

Big Love (live) — Fleetwood mac

Electrical Storm — U2

Because The Night — 10,000 Maniacs

I was walking through Kinston’s Wal-Mart the other day and I thought this guy looked familiar…

On the very first play of the very first practice of the 2008 season, Washington Redskins DE Phillip Daniels injured his knee. He’s now having MRIs to determine the extent of the injury.

My take: As a long-suffering Redskins fan, this is NO way to start this season.

Sigh.

UPDATE AT 7:15 p.m. Sunday: Thanks for the heads-up, Lesboulez — the Redskins just traded for Miami’s Jason Taylor. This is why it’s good to have an owner with deep pockets. Thanks, Danny!

Well, you can buy it at eBay. An unidentified UNC player has put his supposedly sacred 2005 championship ring for sale. The bidding started at $40 and as of noon on Saturday, the price was up to $3,600.

The player won’t identify himself except to people who are “serious bidders only.”

So whose is it? One blogger thinks it might be David Noel’s.

Here is the roster for the 2005 team and my guesses:

Jesse Holley

Melvin Scott

Raymond Felton

Reyshawn Terry

Jackie Manuel

Quentin Thomas

Charlie Everett

Jawad Williams

Wes Miller

Marvin Williams

Damion Grant

Rashad McCants

David Noel

C.J. Hooker

Byron Sanders

Sean May

I don’t think it’s Raymond Felton, Rashad McCants, Marvin Williams or Sean May, since they’re all millionaires on NBA rosters. But it could be any of the other players; who knows where Melvin Scott, Jackie Manuel, Damion Grant or David Noel are today? 

UPDATE at 11 a.m., Sunday: Our good friend Jonathan Tribula said the ring in question is simply a Final Four ring, not the actual national championship ring — and he’s got a good point.

Here’s the ring on eBay:

Now here’s Roy Williams’ championship ring:

Yes, there’s a significant difference. Hope the guy shelling out $3,600 for the Final Four ring knows the difference…